Snow vulnerable in Montclair

Tough winter impacts seniors, disabled, homeless

Two handicapped parking spaces on the south side of the Bellevue Avenue parking lot lie covered in deeply packed snow on Feb. 15.

Montclair residents have reached out to The Times in recent weeks, complaining about snow-clogged roads, icy walkways, plowed-in driveways and parking spots, and overall dangerous conditions throughout the municipality.

Their complaints suggest that some community members may be especially at risk for problems posed by the recent glut of snow.

DISABLED

Zoi Michalopoulou, a Montclair resident who has "mobility, endurance and balance problems," recently emailed The Times a photograph that showed two handicap-restricted spaces in the Bellevue Avenue parking lot completely filled with snowpack.

"All the plowed snow has been piled there ... Their state is unacceptable," said Michalopoulou.

Dave Fucio, chair of the municipal People with Disabilities Advisory Committee, said that although the town is doing a "fair job" cleaning up the snow, some areas, such as Watchung Plaza, are disaster zones.

"It's dangerous," Fucio said. "You can't board a bus in the normal place. Personally, I haven't been able to get on the 66 bus in the plaza because the bus can't get near the curb. And if I do, the return trip is complicated by the fact that there's snow and ice on the Park Street side."

Shirley Morganstein, who operates a speech and language therapy practice, told The Times that the snow has been difficult for people with mobility impairments.

"We aren't all 20-somethings who can leap over mounds of snow and ice," Morganstein said.

SENIORS

Ann Lippel, chair of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, said that during this time of year, people who are older and a little more unsteady on their feet are at risk of injury. Combined with "intersections that are piled high with snow," this presents a challenge for the town's senior citizens, Lippel noted.

Lucille Wright, a former Montclair resident who still does all of her shopping and banking in town, said that mounds of snow blocking bus stops along Bloomfield Avenue have created dangers to her and fellow riders.

"NJ Transit said it's the town's place to make sure the people can get on and off the bus," said Wright, who had contacted the quasi-public transit agency to express her concerns about the inaccessibility of bus stops.

"To get to the Pathmark, you have to climb over a big mound of snow," Wright said. "I'm 68 years old. If I fall and get injured, who's going to take care of me? Somebody's going to get hurt ... this is a disgrace."

HOMELESS

The snow has been particularly hard on the homeless population, said Gwen Parker Ames, executive director of Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless.

Ames said that some of MESH's guests are elderly and have difficulty walking in the snow. Just the other day, Ames said, one of the guests slipped and fell and had to be transported to the hospital.

"Homeless people walk all day long," Ames explained. "It's created a new challenge for us ... How do we meet this need? Moving around in the community is a big challenge. I think that one of the things that we can do to help would be to provide them some kind of transportation."

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Although all the community advocates who spoke with The Times reported problems with leftover snow and ice, they also said that municipal employees have generally done as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

"Really, it's a community need," stressed Ames.

Fucio told The Times that the town is doing what it can, but residents aren't helping matters. "I can't get over how many sidewalks aren't cleaned yet," he said.

According to Lippel, one of the big problems that seniors face is the task of unburying their cars, especially when their driveway aprons are covered with snow by passing snowplows. But this is where "neighborliness" comes in, she said, adding that she's repeatedly seen local teens help dig out snowed-in seniors. She noted that it would be helpful if the town could compile a list of available snow removal contractors for hire, or if the town's many youth groups could provide shoveling services to seniors, maybe as part of a fundraising project.

"It's a collective responsibility," Lippel emphasized. "The town has to do its part, but neighbors have to be alert to what they can do to help each other out."

Tough winter impacts seniors, disabled, homeless

Montclair residents have reached out to The Times in recent weeks, complaining about snow-clogged roads, icy walkways, plowed-in driveways and parking spots, and overall dangerous conditions throughout the municipality.

Their complaints suggest that some community members may be especially at risk for problems posed by the recent glut of snow.

DISABLED

Zoi Michalopoulou, a Montclair resident who has "mobility, endurance and balance problems," recently emailed The Times a photograph that showed two handicap-restricted spaces in the Bellevue Avenue parking lot completely filled with snowpack.

"All the plowed snow has been piled there ... Their state is unacceptable," said Michalopoulou.

Dave Fucio, chair of the municipal People with Disabilities Advisory Committee, said that although the town is doing a "fair job" cleaning up the snow, some areas, such as Watchung Plaza, are disaster zones.

"It's dangerous," Fucio said. "You can't board a bus in the normal place. Personally, I haven't been able to get on the 66 bus in the plaza because the bus can't get near the curb. And if I do, the return trip is complicated by the fact that there's snow and ice on the Park Street side."

Shirley Morganstein, who operates a speech and language therapy practice, told The Times that the snow has been difficult for people with mobility impairments.

"We aren't all 20-somethings who can leap over mounds of snow and ice," Morganstein said.

SENIORS

Ann Lippel, chair of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, said that during this time of year, people who are older and a little more unsteady on their feet are at risk of injury. Combined with "intersections that are piled high with snow," this presents a challenge for the town's senior citizens, Lippel noted.

Lucille Wright, a former Montclair resident who still does all of her shopping and banking in town, said that mounds of snow blocking bus stops along Bloomfield Avenue have created dangers to her and fellow riders.

"NJ Transit said it's the town's place to make sure the people can get on and off the bus," said Wright, who had contacted the quasi-public transit agency to express her concerns about the inaccessibility of bus stops.

"To get to the Pathmark, you have to climb over a big mound of snow," Wright said. "I'm 68 years old. If I fall and get injured, who's going to take care of me? Somebody's going to get hurt ... this is a disgrace."

HOMELESS

The snow has been particularly hard on the homeless population, said Gwen Parker Ames, executive director of Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless.

Ames said that some of MESH's guests are elderly and have difficulty walking in the snow. Just the other day, Ames said, one of the guests slipped and fell and had to be transported to the hospital.

"Homeless people walk all day long," Ames explained. "It's created a new challenge for us ... How do we meet this need? Moving around in the community is a big challenge. I think that one of the things that we can do to help would be to provide them some kind of transportation."

A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Although all the community advocates who spoke with The Times reported problems with leftover snow and ice, they also said that municipal employees have generally done as well as can be expected under the circumstances.